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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>There are probably lots of ways to say
this, but for me the presenting conditions for Open Space are as follows: 1) A
real “business” issue (no matter how you define “business”).
Point is that it is something that people really care about. 2) Lots of
complexity in terms of the issue so that no single person, or even small group,
could figure it out. 3) Lots of diversity in terms of the people who come. 4) Real
passion and probably conflict. 5) A decision time of yesterday – this is
a matter of some urgency.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>There is no absolute metric here –
but I have found that if one or two are missing, or only present in minimal
proportions, the Open Space is likely to be dull. Even boring. And who wants to
be bored in Open Space?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Andrew Ballance<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, June 20, 2007
9:40 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Fw: The Theme</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I absolutely agree with you Deborah. Effectively, one of the classical
preconditions of Open Space is not satisfied, and that will lead to a very
different type of gathering. If there is no pressing issue, then there must be
some other motivator for people showing up. So maybe (daring thought, I know),
there are actually only two preconditions for Open Space: Complexity of System
is high and Complexity of outcome / direction is high. (I can only ever
remember 3, those two and that there is a pressing issue).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I'm reminded of an image
I've drawn several times now in Open Space when explaining to people (myself
initially) what happens (not that it's essential to this discussion, but I
thought I would share it). Here's the link: (no I never learnt to draw! :)<br>
<a href="http://www.pixagogo.com/9943784165" target="_blank">http://www.pixagogo.com/9943784165</a><u><br>
</u>In the image, there are two spaces: inside and outside the space. Outside
the space, there's the motivation for coming into the space (red arrows), and
then the energy and new thoughts and visions that participants depart with
(thick orange). Inside you need that great big messy churn of thoughts and
perspectives. You need complexity of system and of future direction in order to
get a good 'churn'.<br>
If a community is gathering, then I would say it is natural when you're sitting
in a circle staring into the eyes of all the people you share beliefs with one
some level, that you will talk about your present state, your practices and
beliefs, the future of the community, the future. These are always complex
within a non-trivial human system. The theme is unstated but effectively the
community and its practices, however you interpret that...<br>
<br>
And as we all know, that's ok too! :)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>----- Original Message
----<br>
From: Deborah Hartmann <deborah@hartmann.net><br>
To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 12:02:41 PM<br>
Subject: Re: The Theme<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I've been mulling over the BarCamp phenom and its relation to Open <br>
Space. I'm starting to think there are 2 kinds of events:<br>
<br>
Issue/Problem focused (classic Open Space)<br>
Community-based (BarCamp = OS minus Focused Theme/Reports/Action Planning )<br>
<br>
For ex: I'm starting to think maybe the theme for TorCamp is always the <br>
same: Something like - building a more vibrant software community in <br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toronto</st1:place></st1:City> (the
theme of the original TorCamp). In these, the right people <br>
come because they are/want to be part of the community. The community <br>
becomes whatever they bring, so it's the right stuff. We want them to <br>
bring a variety of stuff, because it's not about focus but serendipity <br>
and new connections...<br>
<br>
New, raw thoughts. Got to run. Will check in to see what others think <br>
and build on this.<br>
<br>
btw: I'm running an exciting session today - not OS, but two different <br>
retrospectives for an organisation: Cultural Retro followed by a Process <br>
exercise called Value Stream Mapping (from the Lean Manufacturing <br>
school). Tomorrow they begin to step into their improved future process! :-)<br>
<br>
deb<br>
<br>
Chris Corrigan wrote:<br>
> Sometimes the theme is important, for a certain focus, for work that <br>
> is directed to fairly concrete results. For open conferences
though, <br>
> I can't remember the themes of any of the conferences I have been at, <br>
> let alone the ones in Open Space. It's interesting that despite
weak <br>
> themes, people come anyway. Open Space is then perfect in this <br>
> situation. I always invite people in the opening circle to
simply <br>
> connect with the energy that brought them to the gathering and see if <br>
> there is a compelling question that they are willing to host a <br>
> conversation around.<br>
><br>
> I have to admit a rather nagging frustration with conference <br>
> organizers who insist on action outcomes from meetings that are poorly <br>
> planned. There is nothing wrong with a conference being an open
<br>
> learning experience. Conferences are not the same thing as
organizing <br>
> meetings.<br>
><br>
> My basic template for OSOnOS is simply this: open space for 2.5
<br>
> days. Whatever needs to happen will happen. At the
OSonOS meetings <br>
> I have been a part of, it's the quality of the interaction that <br>
> matters, not the focus on notes, or action planning. Just being
with <br>
> others, enjoying each other's company and learning a few new things is <br>
> enough for me.<br>
><br>
> In this case then, it makes all kinds of sense to have an invitation <br>
> that is light on the theme and heavy on the "look who is coming"
<br>
> part. Having a website set up with an RSS feed to continue to
update <br>
> people about the conference as the plan is unfolding is a useful <br>
> idea. As people confirm, you post their names to the site and
it <br>
> inspires others to come. Once everyone is in the room, open space and <br>
> get out of the way. What could be simpler?<br>
><br>
> Chris<br>
><br>
> On 6/19/07, *Michael M Pannwitz* <mmpanne@boscop.org <br>
> <mailto:mmpanne@boscop.org>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> If you follow the admonition "never work
harder than you have to"<br>
> (Practice of Peace) letting go of the idea of
having a theme for the<br>
> WOSonOS might come easier...Open Space on Open
Space rocks enough<br>
> for me<br>
> and all the OSonOS that I have been too have
rocked or whatever<br>
> regardless of the theme or no theme.<br>
> Its different, however, if the business issue
differs from "Open Space<br>
> on Open Space". Then it is the task of the
sponsor and a planning<br>
> group<br>
> (best a crossection of the whole system that is to
be invited)to<br>
> create<br>
> the theme. I have seen some great, inspiring
themes emerge out of<br>
> sessions like that.<br>
> However, looking back, it seems to me that the act
of finding a theme<br>
> (getting the act together) is much more
significant for the Planning<br>
> Group and its task of writing an invitation for
their event and<br>
> all the<br>
> other stuff they do<br>
> than the theme itself.<br>
> Greetings from <st1:State w:st="on">Berlin</st1:State>
to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toronto</st1:place></st1:City><br>
> mmp<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Deborah Hartmann wrote:<br>
> > Bhavesh wrote<br>
> >><br>
> >> ... I felt the theme wasn't particularly
powerful or meaningful. It<br>
> >> may be better to have no theme, or to use
this time more for<br>
> sharing<br>
> >> and exploring between OS facilitators.<br>
> >><br>
> > I've been thinking a lot on this - the
BarCamp community tends<br>
> also to<br>
> > have weak themes, and yet their events
definitely rock.<br>
> ><br>
> > Are there two kinds of events? (or more?) I
mean:<br>
> > a) to solve a given problem / explore a
particular issue<br>
> > b) simply to build a community<br>
> ><br>
> > Themes can feel contrived for the second kind
of event. However, I<br>
> > strongly believe that the theme is a key to
"whoever comes is<br>
> the right<br>
> > people". So... how is a theme
selected/constructed when there<br>
> seems to<br>
> > be no one common issue?<br>
> ><br>
> > Ex: RoCoCoCamp had a very weak theme... the
organizers had a<br>
> really hard<br>
> > time coming up with one, and then it wasn't
clearly articulated<br>
> or even<br>
> > consistently used in event invitations. But
the event clearly<br>
> had a big<br>
> > impact, to read the blogs and news that came
after.<br>
> ><br>
> > Anyone else thinking about this? What have
you done in similar<br>
> situations?<br>
> ><br>
> > Thanks<br>
> > deb<br>
> ><br>
> > Deborah Hartmann<br>
> > Agile Process Coach<br>
> > deborah DOT hartmann DOT net<br>
> ><br>
> > "Learn the principle, abide by the principle,
and dissolve the<br>
> > principle." -- Bruce Lee<br>
> ><br>
> > *<br>
> > *<br>
> >
==========================================================<br>
> > <st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
> <mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><br>
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><br>
> *<br>
> *<br>
>
==========================================================<br>
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<mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><br>
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><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> -- <br>
> CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>
> Facilitation - Training<br>
> Open Space Technology<br>
><br>
> Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot" target="_blank">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot</a><br>
> Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com" target="_blank">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a><br>
><br>
> Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.<br>
> <a href="http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com" target="_blank">http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com</a>
* * <br>
> ========================================================== <br>
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<br>
<br>
-- <br>
<br>
Deborah Hartmann<br>
Agile Process Coach<br>
deborah AT hartmann DOT net<br>
mobile: fouronesix 996 4337<br>
<br>
"Learn the principle, <br>
abide by the principle, and <br>
dissolve the principle." <br>
-- Bruce Lee<br>
<br>
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